Twist direction finder



1955 w. H. KREAMER TWIST DIRECTION FINDER Filed Sept. 29, 1953 United States Patent TWIST DIRECTION FINDER William H. Kreamer, Roanoke, Va., assignor to American Viscose Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application September 29, 1953, Serial No. 382,943

4 Claims. (Cl. 116-114) This invention relates to a method and device for indicating the direction of twisting continuously running strands.

For example, on a rayon spinning machine of the multiple bucket type, rayon yarn is spun with either twist or z twist. This is accomplished on a machine by changing terminals in the main switch for controlling the spindle motors in such a manner that the motors'may run either clockwise or counterclockwise. Furthermore, each motor is electrically connected to a bus bar running lengthwise of the machine With respect to which the connectors for the motor may be reversed. Each spinning bucket is mounted on a spindle motor and the spinning bucket imparts twist to the yarn as it travels thereto from a godet in superposed spaced relation therewith. Since it is possible through human failure to connect the terminals oppositely to the connection intended, occasionally the twist obtained is reverse to that intended. The resulting twisted yarn, when Woven into the finished fabric, will cause imperfect cloth.

A twist indicator has been provided in accordance with Patent No. 2,554,518 which may be applied to an unsupported length of yarn proceeding between the yarn advancing means and a twister. It has been found, for example, that all types of yarn would not balloon between the godet and the spinning funnel which distributes the windings of the yarn lengthwise of the spinning bucket. The assumption on which the prior art device operates is that the yarn must balloon to efiect rotor vibration. It was found for some types of yarn, particularly those of heavier denier in the range of, for example, 300 to 900 denier, that such yarn frequently does not balloon. Thus the device under these conditions could not accurately indicate the direction of rotation. Moreover, it was found, in other instances, that it was possible to obtain either direction of rotation of the wheel of the twist indicator if the device was not held at exactly right angles to the path of the yarn. Apparently, the adverse direction of rotation was caused by friction from the lengthwise motion of the yarn.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus whereby little care or skill is required to detect the direction in which a running yarn is being twisted.

it is another object to provide method and apparatus whereby the direction of twisting of heavy denier yarns as well. as light denier yarns may be ascertained.

Still another object is to provide a method for which a twist indicator may be constructed to be applied to an unsupported length of a running strand adapted to substantially automatically align itself in an operating position with respect to the strand.

Another object is to provide a twist indicator capable of inducing rotary vibrations or ballooning in a strand being twisted when the strand does not, in the absence of the influence of the indicator, form a balloon.

Other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the invention.

2,715,382 Patented Aug. 16, 1955 'ice and the drawing relating thereto in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of spinning apparatus illustrating one embodiment of the invention in perspective view; and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment.

In brief, the present invention comprises a method and apparatus whereby a running strand may be engaged in a lateral direction as it proceeds to a conveyor by a device comprising a small portable frame, a rotatable element supported by the frame and having a generally circular periphery of which a portion is exposed in a radial direction for engaging the strand, the periphery being preferably serrated or indented, and an extension of the frame having a concave strand-guiding surface spaced from said exposed portion of the periphery in a direction generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the element and facing away from the'axis.

In Fig. 1 is shown a spinning funnel 3 which is supported along a vertical reciprocal ambit in spaced underneath relation with a godet 4 rotating with respect to a fixed axis. The godet discharges a yarn 5 through the funnel into a bucket 6 with respect to which the funnel reciprocates longitudinally of its axis of rotation. As the bucket rotates the yarn 5 is twisted and normally caused to revolve in a circular path along the unsupported section of the yarn extending between the godet and the top of the funnel 3. It also happens with some types of yarns, as pointed out above, that the yarn at the unsupported section of the yarn does not effect rotary vibratory motion. In accordance with the present invention, the yarn is to be held or urged in a direction that is lateral with respect to its length at one point along its unsupported section while the yarn is contacted by a rotor, held in a predetermined position and orientation with respect to the point at which the yarn is urged laterally at another point along the unsupported section, preferably between the first mentioned point and a twisting device, by a rotary element supported for free rotation and positioned in approximately fixed relation with the point at which the yarn is urged in a lateral direction.

To effect this principle of twist detection, a device 10 is provided which comprises a frame 11 having a handle portion 11a attached to, and extending from, the closed end of the U-shaped portion of the frame, an extension 1112 of the frame terminating in a bifurcated end portion 15 which defines a concave surface 16. Supported for free rotation between the legs of the frame is a rotary element 18 having a shaft 19 of which opposite ends are in pivotal bearing relationship with pivot bearings 20 and 2.1. The pivot bearings may extend, as shown, through the legs of the frame in threaded relationship therewith.

At least a portion of the periphery of the rotor or the element 18 is exposed in a radial direction with respect to the axis of the element 18 whereby the periphery of the element may be brought into contact with a running strand such as the yarn 6. The preferred point along the periphery for engaging the strand is that lying approximately in a plane which extends lengthwise through both legs of the frame 11. Such a plane passes through the concave surface 16, thus disposing this surface in spaced relation with the periphery of the element 18 in a direction therefrom approximately parallel to the axis of the element with the concave surface facing away from the axis. The periphery of the rotor or element 18 is disposed Within a plane which is approximately perpendicular to the strand 5 at the instant the strand revolves into contact with the rotor.

The direction of twist in the yarn 6 may be ascertained through use of the device 10 by bringing the surface 16 into engagement with the yarn from a lateral direction and'urging the-yarn, by light pressure, slightly out of its normal patlr as it-proceeds 'between the godet 4 andthe funnel guide 3. By gently lowering the handle of the surface at .the approximate. point along the length of'the .yarn, the rotary element or wheel'lsis'broughtinto engagementwith the yarn which is; now traveling withina rotary path. or. balloon between the point of engagement with the surface 16 and'the'top portion of: the funnel 3. The device is held in this general position so that the periphery of 'the element 18 engages the strand traversing the rotary path or balloon merely alongthe nearest side thereof since the ballooning action of the strand would'b'e destroyedwere the .peripheryof' the element moved directly into the balloon to a substantialfextent: Under most circumstances, a. balloon in a section of thestrand'passing between the godet and the funnel guide is already present and'the. guide merely facilitates thecorrect positioning of the device 10 with respect towthe yarn.

angles because the yarn is'automatically aligned over the wheel .with the guide. However, if thereis no initial balloon in the strand, the engagement of the concave surface therewith at some point spaced not far from the funnel'guide or a twisting device brings into formation a .balloon'of'which' the revolving yarn thereof will'drive the element.

Clockwise motion of the spinning bucket will'produce z'twist-in theyarn and rotary vibration of the yarn within its balloonin a clockwise direction, which in turn drives the'element 18 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in a directionextending from a godet to the spinning bucket. Conversely, s twist is produced by a counterclockwise. motion of the bucket and the yarn within the balloon is indicated by clockwise motion of the element 18.

Fig. 2illustrates a modified. twist indicator 24 which functionsin'the samemanner as that disclosedin Fig. 1

a generally. circular periphery, a thread guide having a concave thread-engaging surface that is open in a lateral direction with respect to the direction of yarn It also eliminates the necessity'of' having; to hold the twist indicator or device at right passage thereover, and means for supporting the guide and theelement in spaced relationship, said .means com-. prising bearing means for mountingthe element for free rotation with respect to an axis in fixed relation with the guide, said means being arranged to expose a portion of the periphery of the element and to space the guide in a directiontfromsaid exposed portion of the element parallel to the axis with the concave surface facing away from the axis.

2. A .twistdetector. comprising a frame, a rotary element havingagenerally'circular periphery supported by the frame in freely rotatable relation therewith with a portion ofthe periphery exposed for access thereto from a direction extending radially fromits axis of rotation, and an extensionzfor the. frameyhaYing a concave strandguiding surface spaced from said portion of the periphery in a direction parallel to said axis, the concave surface facing generally away from the axis.

3. A twistdetector comprising a frame having a U- shaped'portion, ahandleextendin-gaway from the closed end of the U-shaped portion, and an extension extending from, and in transverserelation with, one 'legof the U- shaped'portion'within a-plane containing both legs; a

rotorsupported by'theframe with itsaxis extending throughboth legs audits-periphery exposed in a radial direetionbeyond the-ends--of the-legs,- the endof said extension'furthest removedfrom the U-shaped portion beingnotch'ed to provide a-concave strand-engaging 'sur-- face facingaway-fromtthe-axis of the rotor.

4; A method ofdetectingthedirection in which a running strand is being twistedcomprising applying pressure'frorn a-lateral=direction with a section of the strand as it proceeds from-one means to. a relatively spaced-means along arevolving-path, one of saidmeans References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,125,622 Wons Jan. 19, 1915 1,136,854 Wechsler Apr. 20, 1915 1,686,390. Meyers Oct. 2, 1928 2165,4116 Rydstedt July 11, 1939 2,554,518- Buchanan=.. May 29, 1951 

